People in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and the wider Inland Northwest can work with a Blackburn mentor by video. Each client has one dedicated mentor, meets weekly or more often, and checks in by text or phone between sessions. We are on Pacific time like Spokane, though our team is based in Los Angeles.
A river city with room to breathe
Spokane is built around its falls and Riverfront Park, the old Expo ’74 grounds, with the Centennial Trail running east toward Idaho. It is a regional center for health care, education, government and logistics, with Fairchild Air Force Base to the west. Housing has historically cost less than on the west side of the state, and many families have moved over from Seattle for that reason.
For young people, Spokane offers a manageable size and outdoor access, from ski days on nearby mountains to summer lakes in north Idaho. It can also feel small to a teenager looking for something more.
Helping teens who feel there is nothing to do
A common complaint from teenagers in mid-sized cities is that there is nothing going on. Usually there is more than they think; they just do not have a plan to find it. A mentor helps a student pick one or two pursuits worth real time, such as a job, a sport, a volunteer role or a creative project, and build a week around them. See volunteering for teens and a teen’s first job.
Families who moved over the mountains
Families relocating from Puget Sound or out of state often find the move harder on teens than expected. A new school, new friends and a different pace all arrive at once. A weekly session with the same mentor gives a student one constant through the transition and practical goals for settling in.
Young adults choosing to stay or go
Spokane-area young adults face a real choice: build a life in the Inland Northwest or head to a bigger city. Both are valid. A mentor helps them make the decision on purpose:
- List what they want from the next three years: work, money, people, place.
- Research actual jobs and costs in Spokane and in the cities they are considering.
- Talk to people who stayed and people who left.
- Set a decision date and a plan for either answer.
Whichever way they go, the work continues. A young adult who moves to Seattle or Portland keeps the same mentor at the same weekly time, and one who stays gets help turning a local job into a career with a clear next step.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor is an outside adult who meets every week and keeps the plan on track. Mentors are not tutors, therapists or admissions counselors. For a teen, a parent always joins the intro call and gets regular updates; start with mentoring for high school students. For a young adult between plans, help for young adults feeling stuck is a good place to begin. Read about video sessions on our online mentoring page.
Related
- Online mentoring on the Seattle Eastside
- Online mentoring in Boise
- Mentoring in Washington
- How mentoring works
Common questions
Are sessions in Pacific time?
Yes. Spokane and our mentors share Pacific time, so an after-school session is after school for everyone.
Can you work with someone in north Idaho?
Yes. We work with clients anywhere in the United States by video, including Coeur d’Alene and the rest of north Idaho.
Is there an in-person option near Spokane?
No. In-person sessions are only in Los Angeles. Spokane clients meet by video and check in by text and phone.
Do you help young adults decide whether to move away?
Yes. Mentors help them research options, set criteria and pick a decision date, then plan the next steps either way.
Get started
Have someone in the Inland Northwest who could use a mentor? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.